Florida band director injured in attack by Miami fan, school says

The ugliness of No. 8 Florida’s sloppy win over Miami on Saturday wasn’t confined to the game.

A Gators spokesperson said Sunday that the team’s band director Jay Watkins was injured by an attack from a Miami fan after the game, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

According to the spokesperson, the incident occurred as members of the Florida band walked back to their bus following the 24-20 win. A female Miami fan reportedly tried to cut through the group, which drew the attention of Watkins.

What happened from there, per the Sentinel:

Director Jay Watkins "went out to try to stop this person and when he did, somebody else grabbed him behind in a chokehold and threw him on the pavement,” Orlando said.

Watkins sustained bumps and scrapes on his head and elbow, was treated by a paramedic and boarded the bus back to Gainesville.

The Orlando Police Department reportedly said Watkins is declining to press charges, but wanted a report on the incident documented. No description of Watkins’ attacker was given.

No student band members were reportedly injured, though one woman was apparently so upset that her nose started bleeding.

Such an incident is a sad footnote for Florida’s Week 0 win, in which the Gators and Hurricanes exchanged touchdowns and turnovers until the Florida defense finally got a couple of stops to end the game.